NLRP3 and major depressive disorder: High fat, cholesterol crystals, extracellular ATP, and excess glucose are risk factors that contribute to the development of CVDs by activating NLRP3 inflammasome, and these factors are also involved in the development of depression (Fig. 5).76 Dysregulated autophagy and mitophagy have been implicated in inflammasome activation and the development of both depression and CVDs.77–80 Several specific NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitors are being investigated for the treatment of both depression and CVDs.